The Chesterfield football history resource

Local boy Bill Whitaker joined Chesterfield on amateur forms in April, 1941.
His status as a miner meant that he was not called up for military service, and
he was thus able to stay and play, rather than be sent overseas in His
Majesty's forces. He put his name to a professional form in August 1942 and
took a regular place at the centre of Chesterfield's halfback line as the war drew to a close..

Tall, wiry
and commanding, he lost his place through injury and was a reserve when
Middlesbrough stepped in to break the record for a fee received by Chesterfield.
The club had a number of quality centre-halves on their books at the time and
could afford to cash in on his promise, so ‘Boro's offer of £9,500 was readily
accepted in June 1947.

Billy had played only 13 Football League games by then, but
he'd played 167 times during the war, so 'Boro knew they were getting an
experienced man. Knee ligament damage hampered the rest of his professional
career, but, when fit, he was an important member of a good Boro' side, and
represented the Football League against the Irish League in 1950. He completed
177 League games for Middlesbrough before moving into the non-league game at
King's Lynn, briefly, and Gainsborough Trinity. Upon joining Gainsborough,
Billy returned to a job down the mines and saw out his football career with the
Creswell Colliery side. He settled in his native Chesterfield upon retirement.

For Chesterfield: 13 League appearances. (167 more in
wartime football)